Waking up in Lubbock on a Saturday is just different. You can smell the brisket from the tailgates near Jones AT&T Stadium long before you hear the first notes of "The Matador Song." But honestly, the biggest stress for any Red Raider fan isn't the opponent—it's figuring out what time is the texas tech football game so you don't miss the Masked Rider's legendary entrance.
Timing is everything in the Big 12. One week you're under the lights for a 7:30 PM kickoff, and the next, you're squinting into the 11:00 AM sun. Since the 2025 season just wrapped up with that historic run to the Orange Bowl, everyone is already looking toward the 2026 slate.
The 2026 Texas Tech Schedule Kickoff Times
If you are looking for the very next time the Red Raiders take the turf, we are currently in the off-season lull. The team finished a massive 12–2 campaign, winning the Big 12 Championship before falling to Oregon in the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Day.
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Joey McGuire has the program humming, but for the 2026 season, many specific kickoff times are still "TBA." Networks like FOX and ESPN usually wait until 6 to 12 days before a game to finalize the window. However, we do have the dates for the non-conference matchups that start the year.
- September 5, 2026: Texas Tech vs. Abilene Christian (Home Opener)
- September 12, 2026: Texas Tech at Oregon State (Corvallis, OR)
- September 26, 2026: Texas Tech vs. Sam Houston (Lubbock, TX)
Why Kickoff Times Shift
Television networks basically run the show. The Big 12 has a massive media rights deal, meaning games can be slotted into windows on ABC, FOX, ESPN, or even streaming on ESPN+. If it’s a high-stakes matchup against a team like TCU or Oklahoma State, expect a later slot. If it’s a smaller non-conference game, you might want to set an alarm for a morning kick.
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How to Find the Texas Tech Game Time Today
When the season is live, finding out what time is the texas tech football game requires checking a few reliable spots. Don't just trust a random social media post.
- The Official Athletics Site: texastech.com is the "source of truth." They update the schedule the second a TV network claims a game.
- The "Texas Tech Red Raiders" App: It’s actually pretty decent. It pushes notifications to your phone about time changes and weather delays.
- Local Lubbock News: Outlets like the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal or local TV stations (KCBD, KLBK) are usually the first to scream it from the rooftops when a night game is announced.
Honestly, the "6-day window" is the bane of every fan's existence. That's when the networks haven't decided if a game is good enough for prime time yet. You end up waiting until Sunday or Monday before the game to know if you're eating breakfast or dinner at the tailgate.
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Navigating Game Day in Lubbock
If the game time is 11:00 AM, the atmosphere is frantic. Tailgates start at 6:00 AM. If it's a night game? The energy in Lubbock is electric, and the "Jones" becomes one of the toughest places to play in the country.
The 2025 season saw Texas Tech climb to No. 4 in the rankings. That kind of success means more national TV slots, which usually means more afternoon and evening games. For the upcoming 2026 season, the Big 12 schedule includes home stands against Arizona, Houston, and West Virginia. Those are going to be hot tickets.
Actionable Steps for Red Raider Fans
To stay ahead of the curve and ensure you never miss a kickoff, follow these steps:
- Bookmark the FBSchedules page for Texas Tech. They track every confirmed time and TV channel, including the "TBA" slots.
- Sync your digital calendar. The official Texas Tech website offers a "Sync to Calendar" feature that automatically updates your phone when a time is announced.
- Check the weather. Lubbock wind is real. A 2:30 PM kick in September feels much hotter than it looks on paper.
- Download the "Texas Tech Mobile App." Use it specifically for mobile ticketing, as Hard Rock Stadium and Jones AT&T have moved away from paper stubs.
Keep an eye out for the Big 12's official schedule release, which usually happens in late winter or early spring. That will give us the full list of conference opponents, even if the exact "what time is the texas tech football game" answer remains a mystery until the week of the matchup. Go Tech!